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lsparrow's review against another edition
4.0
i am pulled in by mennonite hx of migration and community and how it comes up in her books.
the story of these two sisters and the family story of suicide and the choice to live or not keeps me coming back to this story and the characters.
the story of these two sisters and the family story of suicide and the choice to live or not keeps me coming back to this story and the characters.
camsprinks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sbsantiago's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
What would you do if someone you loved desperately wanted to die, but you desperately wanted them to live? Would you insist they work through their pain and live? What if they've tried it all? Do you offer them mercy and allow them the opportunity to die with dignity? These are not easy questions. When you love someone, you would do anything for them to be happy. You would do anything to keep them alive. But, at what point does that become selfishness?
I'm really glad I read this book. It touched on themes such as mental illness and the pain/suffering of those who struggle with it. As well as suicide, euthanasia, religion, generational trauma, and family relationships. The author took these very dark topics and introduced them in a digestible way through the use of dark humor. I enjoyed the glimpses we were given into the mental health system and the struggles/limitations many people face when seeking help for themselves or for loved ones. As someone who works in the mental health field and who has many family members who have been let down by the mental health system, I found it to be both relatable and incredibly frustrating. The topic of suicide/euthanasia is very polarizing and I found that this book handled the topics very well. The novel explores the controversial and complex nature of suicide/euthanasia through Elf and Yoli's perspectives and experiences, which allows the readers to view these topics from different perspectives.
"All My Puny Sorrows" was an incredibly moving, dark, and funny book. The writing style in this book was unique. It was told in first person, but it was more conversational and at times felt kind of like stream of consciousness. While I enjoyed the uniqueness of the writing, for me personally, I tend to have difficulty remaining engaged with this type of writing style. So for me, it was somewhat difficult for me to really connect with the characters in the way that I wanted to. However, I found that there were many poignant moments in this book that really spoke to me and made me quite emotional.
I loved the relationship between all of the family members in this book, particularly the relationship between the two sisters, Elf and Yoli. It really was the true heart of this book for me. I will definitely be reading more by this author in the future.
What would you do if someone you loved desperately wanted to die, but you desperately wanted them to live? Would you insist they work through their pain and live? What if they've tried it all? Do you offer them mercy and allow them the opportunity to die with dignity? These are not easy questions. When you love someone, you would do anything for them to be happy. You would do anything to keep them alive. But, at what point does that become selfishness?
I'm really glad I read this book. It touched on themes such as mental illness and the pain/suffering of those who struggle with it. As well as suicide, euthanasia, religion, generational trauma, and family relationships. The author took these very dark topics and introduced them in a digestible way through the use of dark humor. I enjoyed the glimpses we were given into the mental health system and the struggles/limitations many people face when seeking help for themselves or for loved ones. As someone who works in the mental health field and who has many family members who have been let down by the mental health system, I found it to be both relatable and incredibly frustrating. The topic of suicide/euthanasia is very polarizing and I found that this book handled the topics very well. The novel explores the controversial and complex nature of suicide/euthanasia through Elf and Yoli's perspectives and experiences, which allows the readers to view these topics from different perspectives.
"All My Puny Sorrows" was an incredibly moving, dark, and funny book. The writing style in this book was unique. It was told in first person, but it was more conversational and at times felt kind of like stream of consciousness. While I enjoyed the uniqueness of the writing, for me personally, I tend to have difficulty remaining engaged with this type of writing style. So for me, it was somewhat difficult for me to really connect with the characters in the way that I wanted to. However, I found that there were many poignant moments in this book that really spoke to me and made me quite emotional.
I loved the relationship between all of the family members in this book, particularly the relationship between the two sisters, Elf and Yoli. It really was the true heart of this book for me. I will definitely be reading more by this author in the future.
room334's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Absolutely heartbreaking. The way that Miriam Toews writes about grief and love between siblings is honest and devastating, but also filled with humor at times that feels so true to real life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Suicide
mredhead's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jlene's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Sad and funny. So insightful and beautifully written. I have to agree with the reviews. Toews at her finest.
earthtomanda's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Wow. This book had me laughing while sobbing, and changed the way I look at things. I definitely need to re-read it when I’m not under a time pressure to finish it for school.
skeltonse's review against another edition
Definitely tops the list of books I would have told my father not to read, and yet also one of the books I’m most glad he has read.
„I learned another thing, which is that just because someone is eating the ashes of your protagonist doesn't mean you stop telling the story.“
„It was a typical prairie storm, angry with the dryness it had been forced to endure.“
„The coldest city in the world and yet the hottest, the farthest from the sun and yet the brightest, where two fierce, wild rivers meet to join forces and conquer man“
„Everyone in the whole world was fighting with somebody to stay.
„I learned another thing, which is that just because someone is eating the ashes of your protagonist doesn't mean you stop telling the story.“
„It was a typical prairie storm, angry with the dryness it had been forced to endure.“
„The coldest city in the world and yet the hottest, the farthest from the sun and yet the brightest, where two fierce, wild rivers meet to join forces and conquer man“
„Everyone in the whole world was fighting with somebody to stay.
When Richard Bach wrote "If you love someone, set them free" he can't have been directing his advice at human beings.“
„and I finally
„and I finally
understand what she needs to hear…and I tell her that my sorrow was not created by her, that my childhood was a joyful thing, an island in the sun, that her mothering is impeccable, that she is not to blame.“
„…it was ludicrous to think that we could just talk our way out of shame, that shame was necessary, that it prevented us from repeating shameful actions and that it motivated us to say we were sorry and to seek forgiveness and to empathize with our fellow humans and to feel the pain of self-loathing which motivated some of us to write books as a futile attempt at atonement, and shame also helped, I told my friend, to fuck up relationships and fucked-up relationships are the life force of books and movies and theatre so sure, let's get rid of shame but then we can kiss art goodbye too“
„She told me that the brain is built to forget things as we continue to live, that memories are meant to fade and disintegrate“
„…it was ludicrous to think that we could just talk our way out of shame, that shame was necessary, that it prevented us from repeating shameful actions and that it motivated us to say we were sorry and to seek forgiveness and to empathize with our fellow humans and to feel the pain of self-loathing which motivated some of us to write books as a futile attempt at atonement, and shame also helped, I told my friend, to fuck up relationships and fucked-up relationships are the life force of books and movies and theatre so sure, let's get rid of shame but then we can kiss art goodbye too“
„She told me that the brain is built to forget things as we continue to live, that memories are meant to fade and disintegrate“